TUBERCULOSIS. 405 



2. Notification of the Existence of the Disease. 



This point requires no explanation, since it is clear that, unless the 

 veterinary inspectors or authorities receive information of occurrence of 

 diseases, it is impossible to ensure the thorough carrying out of the 

 provisions of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act. 



That deliberate non-notification should be punished cannot be doubted 

 by any one. Objection, however, to legislation in this direction has been 

 put forward, on the same grounds as those upon which the prevention of 

 breeding from diseased animals was contested. As, however, I consider 

 that these objections have been already shown to have no weight, I 

 recommend that both the forbiddance of breeding from diseased animals, 

 and the notification of the disease, should be included in any legislation 

 for tuberculosis. 



The difficulty referred to by the Committee, is presented by 

 cases of the disease which cannot be detected by the ordinary 

 methods of examination, and might possibly be overcome by the 

 use of tuberculin as a diagnostic agent. 



